Written by

Harold J Adams

The Courier-Journal

There are three basic types of subsidized housing in which rent for an apartment is lowered through a government agency. The agency either provides a low-cost apartment directly or assists renters in paying less out of pocket to private landlords.

According to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, they are:

 Privately owned subsidized housing. HUD pays money directly to landlords so the landlords can offer lower rents. You can shop for one of those apartments by searching a list of participating landlords in your area on the HUD website at http://www.hud.gov/apps/section8 and then applying directly to the management office of the property.

 The Housing Choice Voucher Program. Also known as Section 8, in this program vouchers are supplied to renters who use them to pay landlords willing to accept them for all or part of the rent. Applicants must go through their local public housing agency.

 Public housing. This is housing that is owned and often managed by the government through local housing agencies. There are apartments for low-income families, the elderly and persons with disabilities provided at rents well below market rates. Here again applications are made through the local public housing agency.

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However you define this new age of austerity, the fact is that we have less to spend and are now redefining our standards of living. How we come to terms with new economic realities and our hopes that our children can realize a middle class lifestyle is an important conversation, one the Courier-Journal hopes to lead. Courier-Journal journalist Jere Downs reports, writes, and tracks down the information that all of us need to raise our standard of living. The granddaughter of an auto worker and a witness to the decline of the middle class in her native Detroit, Downs is a longtime business writer, and graduate of the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism.• Contact Jere with story ideas or feedback

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How can I get subsidized housing?

There are three basic types of subsidized housing in which rent for an apartment is lowered through a government agency.